More information : [TQ 5272 4386] Church of St John the Baptist (NAT) (1) The Church of St John, Penshurst, was originally Norman. A north aisle was added in the early 13th c. and widened in 1854. The south aisle is decorated, widened in 1631. The Western tower and clerestory are Perpendicular. (2) In normal use. (3) 1. 5280 PENSHURST PENSHURST Church of St John the Baptist. TQ 5243 23/795 10.9.54. B 2. Nave and aisles, chancel and aisles, west tower, south porch. Coursed sandstone. C13 North aisle arcade, early C14 south aisle arcade running into south chapel. Later C14 north chapel. Perpendicular clerestory. Sidney chapel, off south chancel chapel, of 1820 by J B Rebecca. Deep diagonal buttresses to Perpendicular west tower, battlemented and with 4 stocky corner turrets. Crown post roof to nave. Restoration of 1864 by Sir G G Scott, including south windows. Chancel screen by Bodley and Garner, 1895. Many mediaeval and later monuments. (4)
St John the Baptist's Church, Penshurst, appears wholly 19th century form the outside except for a Perpendicular west tower. Nave and gabled aisles, chancel and galed chapels, not enlarged in the 19th century. North aisle, chancel east wall and south windows by Sir G. G. Scott, 1864-5. Early English north arcade of 3 bays on round piers, the capital of the west one particulary primitive. Early 14th century south arcade continued with the same octagonal piers and bold capitals in the 2 bays to the south chapel. Similar west arch in the chapel, with a big leaf head corbel, set in a wall, dividing chapel from aisle. Here too, is a lancet rebated towards the west, evidence of a 13th century south chapel or vestry. The chancel arch must be Scott's, timber, with pierced spandrels, resting on big stone angels. Two unequal arches to the north chapel, one with a hood mould on typical mid 14th century heads. Perpendicular clerestory in nave and chancel. Sidney Chapel by Rebecca with pointed tunnel vault, panelled with cusped heads to the panels and bumpy foliage bosses but springing from rows of moulded corbels incongruously. Early English in style.(5) Additional bibliography- not consulted.(6)
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